Amazing Love

March 31, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

There is no one in life that will be able to show us through their actions the love that God has demonstrated for us in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross. His love endures through every aspect of our lives. Through the greatest joys and through the deepest of sorrows…God’s love is surrounding each one of us. No matter where you are or what is happening turn towards the Lord and you will find comfort in His love. Amen.

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“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8

(This photo was taken in October fo 2014 at the Nakalele Blowhole on the island of Maui, Hawaii)

Identity Crisis

March 30, 2019 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

Who are we trying to be? What are our worries? What are our concerns? Are we pursuing to be who God created us to be? How do we know? Why am I doing this? Where is God? Why is this happening? This is so hard…I don’t know how I got here…I don’t know what to do…

STOP…Pick up a bible

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:7

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Ephesians 4:22-24

“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

Philippians 4:13

How do we know that this is the way…that this is the truth…and this is the life?

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16

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Amen.

(This photo was taken in May of 2014 at a lake place in central Minnesota)

Seek God’s Will

March 28, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When questions seem never-ending in life, we often look for easy or convenient answers in worldly places. If we just knew all the answers than life would be easy…becareful what you wish for. Easy has never been promised to anyone and even if you think there is a person or people who have it easy than most likely you don’t know the whole story about them or their lives. We all have troubles, we all are broken in some way. The one constant, the only thing that we know we can count on is God’s love. He is our Creator, He knows everything about our lives and His plan is far better than anything we can cook up ourselves. Seek God’s will for your life and you will find peace. Amen.

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“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)

Give Thanks and Praise

March 16, 2019 / mcalcagno / 1 Comment

It is crazy how quickly the attetntion of so many people is distracted. Today’s world is filled with so much information and so much more incorrect information that it is easy to get derailed or side tracked. We need to be able to be centered on something or someone to keep us level headed and not chasing every feeling and emotion as if we are the center of the universe. God knows everything about us. I did a brief exercise this morning that I read about in one of my devotionals today…think about your last 24 hours…God knows about every single thing and every single thought you have experienced…yes even that one…now think about the fact that this is true about every single thing and thought in your life…and after all that realize that right now, knowing all those things, God forgives you and God loves you the same today as He did the day you were born. To show you how much He loves and cares for you He sent His Son to take the punishment that we all deserve so that we can still have a relationship with Him. Give thanks and praise to God our Father and Jesus Christ, His Son, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

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“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:4-7

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

God’s Purpose For You

March 4, 2019 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

What is it? When was the last time you asked Him, directly? What would it look like to get a direct answer? Or has this question been answered, several times, several ways and we just are not sure or we don’t like what is being said? We were all made for a purpose and it is not always the purpose we think it should be…it actually is something better then what we come up with on our own. To help us understand more about our purpose we should reflect and think about the things that come easy to us that we can do that another person may not be able to do for themselves. Look around your life right where you are…if you are willing, God can use you there too. Seek the will of the Lord for your life because He is with you every step of the way. Amen.

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“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

1 Peter 4:10

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

Nothing Can Separate Us

February 26, 2019April 16, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

No matter what we do or where we go, we are still loved by God. We tend to think, not me, God deosn’t really love me…look at the things I have done and left undone. Look at what I said, look at my life and the things that have happened because of me. To this I say look at the examples of people in the Bible. Peter, rejected being associated with Jesus three times after Jesus was arrested. Rahab in the Book of Joshua, she was a prostitute who acted with faith and courage to help God’s people capture the Promised Land. Saul who became Paul…he hunted down and killed many of the followers of Jesus and yet the Lord still loved him and made him one of the greatest teachers of the faith in the New Testament. There are many more like these. We are not perfect nor will we ever be, we will make mistakes and do the wrong things…inspite of it all God still loves us and wants to help us grow and mature in our faith. Trust in the Lord. Amen.

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“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:38-39

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 at Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

Praise And Worship

February 17, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Tune your spirit to align with God. When you find yourself in that moment you will know it. There is nothing like it. I have very few words to share with you this morning as my faith is best expressed through song. May the love and joy of the Lord wash over you and bring you peace. Amen.

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:24

How Great Is Our God – Chris Tomlin

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“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spriritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”

Colossians 3:16

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)

Self-Assessment

February 15, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Here is a difficult thing to do on our faith journey. And like everything else this is not a one and done check box in life…it is ongoing, it is a process, it is not something we should do alone. God knows about you, He knows what is going on in your life right now, He knows your thoughts and fears and He knows you will need Him…He did two things to help you…He sent His one and only Son as a sacrifice to save you and He gave you free will. Choose faith, choose Jesus Christ, choose God’s Word…He knows you, He loves you and He is waiting to hear from you. Amen.

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“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

(This photo was taken in September of 2016 at a lake place in central Minnesota)

God’s Love

February 10, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

It is uncomprehendable for our finite minds…in the Book of Ephesians chapter 3 Paul writes a prayer for the Ephesians…“…And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ…” (Ephesians 3:17-18) God stands by us, when we turn our backs on Him, He doesn’t give up on us. When we get consumed by the sinful nature, He forgives us. When He saw that all His efforts in the Old Testament to save His people were temporary fixes…He did the unthinkable, He became like us and He sacrificed His one and only Son to ensure we would be saved. God loves you…more than you will ever be able to understand during your life on earth. Seek Him and His everlasting love. Here is a song of praise about God’s love. Peace be with you.

How He Loves Us – David Crowder Band

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“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have enternal life.”

John 3:16

(This photo was taken in June of 2018 while walking the dog near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Father God

February 6, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We are encouraged by the grace and mercy God our Father gives to us. We stumble and fall and yet He loves us the same. He walks with us daily and still there are days we yell ‘God, where are you?’ His love for us is greater than any we will find in human relationships but yet we put our time with Him off to the side or as a low priority that easily can be removed for our busy lives. We seek His forgiveness and He delivers everytime…the Word of God never changes…He created us; He loves us; He calls us by name…at that point it is up to us to respond. The greatest Dad there is, is God our Father. We are His children. We are comforted and encouraged by His love. Amen.

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